Handbag framing machine



May'26, 1970 A. J. FLECHAS 3,513,685

HANDBAG FRAMING macamn Filed April 1, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 COMPRSSSED 141E SUPPLY fltfred I Flechas M am! @W A] 1 ORNEYS Meiy 26, 1970 A. J. FLECHAS HANDBAG FRAMING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet I Filed April 1, 1968 #[fred Fl 66/2615 J 94%}; W WM ATTORNEYS May 26, 1970 A. J. FLECHAS HANDBAG FRAMING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 1, 1968 R m E M ATTORNEYS United States Patent "ice 3,513,685 HANDBAG FRAMING MACHINE Alfred J. Flechas, Hiway 200 W., P.0. Box 160, Ocala, Fla. 32670 Filed Apr. 1, '1968, Ser. No. 717,620 Int. Cl. B21d 41/00 US. Cl. 72-403 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A handbag framing machine has a center die and two side dies. The three dies hold the handbag frame while the bag is inserted into the center portion of the frame and crimped into the frame by the center die. The bag is then inserted into one side of the frame and crimped into the frame by one side die. Then the other side of the frame and bag are likewise completed.

This invention relates to a handbag framing machine and, in particular, to a machine for aiding the insertion of the edge portion of a bag into a frame and then crimping the frame.

In the making of handbags, particularly ladies handbags, the edge portion of the bag has heretofore been manually inserted into the frame and then the frame crimped on the bag. This manual operation has been slow and clumsy as the operators hands are needed both for holding the frame and inserting the bag in the frame. Material forming tools such as disclosed in the Noecker Pat. No. 2,503,5 89 are not suitable for handbag framing.

The object of this invention is to produce a machine which holds the handbag frame and leaves the operators hands free for inserting the bag in the frame. The machine then crimps the frame onto the bag.

In general, these objects are obtained by using three dies in a machine, namely, a center die and two side dies. These dies are operated by a power for first holding the frame so that the operator can insert the front of the bag in the frame, then crimping the frame on the bag with the center die. The corner gussets of the bag are then inserted into the frame and then one side die used to crimp the side portion of the frame and following that the other side die is used to crimp the remaining side of the frame. This results in a fast and accurate fitting of the frame to the bag.

The means by which the objects of the invention are obtained are described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the machine partially in crosssection;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the machine showing the center die;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a detail showing the relative positions of the dies and the frame;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the frame initially positioned beneath the center die;

FIG. 6 is a detail view of a portion of FIG. 5 showing the die holding the frame in initial position;

FIG. 7 is a similar view showing the frame partially crimped on the bag; and

FIG. 8 is a similar view showing the frame crimped on the bag.

As shown in FIG. 1, the machine is composed of a supporting stand 10 having two upright legs 12 and 14 and a top crossbeam 16. Three pneumatic cylinders 20, 22 and 24 with pistons therein are joined to crossbeam 16. Each pair of vertical struts 27, which are similar for each piston and secured to crossbeam 16, supports a guide plate .28 through which a piston rod 29 extends.

3,513,685 Patented May 26, 1970 The piston rod for the center cylinder 22 carries an elongated straight die 30 beneath which is the corresponding die plate 32. The two side cylinders 20 and 24 are similar to each other and the piston rods of each carrying curved dies 34 beneath which are the corresponding die plates 36. Members 37 on plates 36 serve to position the handbag frame F, FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, each cylinder, such as the cylinder 24, contains the piston 40 which is urged downwardly by a compression spring 42.

Air from a compressed air supply flows through a three-way valve 50 which is operated from a foot pedal 52 and rod 54. This valve is connected to cylinder 20 by pipe 56 and intermediate knee-actuated valve 58 mounted on leg 14. Likewise, side cylinder 24 is connected to valve 50 by pipe 60 which passes through knee-actuated valve 62 mounted on leg 12. The center cylinder 22 is joined to valve 50 by pipe 62.

The side cylinders 20 and 24 are slidably adjustable on crossbeam 16 and move by threaded shafts 70 so that bag frames of various sizes can be accommodated.

In operation, valve 50 is initially open so that there is compressed air in the lower parts of the cylinders 20, 22 and 24 and the pistons are retracted vertically against the spring 42, the dies thus being in open position.

With reference to FIGS. 5 to 8, the frame P which is of U-shape in plan and a channel shape in cross-section is placed in the open die. The foot pedal 52 is then pushed to turn the valve 50 to its first position which releases air from each of the cylinders and spring 42 pushes piston 40 down so that the dies firmly engage and hold the frame without crimping as shown in FIG. 6. The operator then manually inserts the front center edge portion of the bag B into the frame as shown in FIG. 7, then the foot pedal 52 is depressed to its second position so that the center die only moves downwardly and crimps the center portion of the frame at the center portion of the bag as shown in FIG. 8. The operator then manually inserts the comer gusset and side portions of the bag into the frame held by the side die for the cylinder 20 and then the operator while holding the bag in place uses a knee to push the valve 58 and crimp the left side of a frame onto the bag. The operator then does the same thing to the right side of the bag using valve 62. Compressed air is then forced into the cylinders by the third position of valve 50 and the three dies rise to release the frame.

It is noted that the handbag "frame has two halves hinged together. The above operation has been described for one half the frame. The completed frame half is removed and the other frame half put into position for the same sequence of steps to complete the bag.

Having now described the means by which the objects of this invention are obtained, I claim:

1. A handbag framing machine comprising a supporting stand, a center die and two side dies supported on said stand adapted to engage and crimp a handbag frame, and pressure means joined to each die for firstly partly closing all dies upon the frame, secondly closing the center die to crimp the center of the frame on a bag, and thirdly closing the side dies one after the other to crimp the sides of the frame on the bag.

2. A machine as in claim -1, said pressure mean-s comprising a compressed air actuated piston joined to each die, a compressed air source, and valve means connected to said compressed air source and each piston for actuating the pistons.

3. A machine as in claim 2, said valve means comprising a foot pedal actuated valve for firstly closing said dies and knee-actuated valves for closing the side dies independently of each other.

3 4 4. A machine as in claim 2, said valve means com- 1,920,780 8/1933 Cardinale 29243.58 prising a three-way valve for first opening the dies, second 1,960,799 5/ 1934 Sieg 29243.5 8

11 1 h d' partia y c oslng the dies and third closing t e res CHARLES W. LANHAM Pnmary Exammer efere Cited 5 M. J. KEENAN, Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS U S Cl, X,R 1,971,151 8/1934 Balsam 29243.58 29243.57 

